Then I started to wonder if it was some kind of joke. I expected to open my eyes and find that I was sitting alone on the tatami or that all the other students were standing around holding back their laughter while pointing at me and nudging their friends.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

I could hear the dojo clock.

Tick.

Tick.

"Brrrrrrrrrrinnnng". The phone rang.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

The front door slammed shut and I could hear people
talking.

Tick.

Tick.

Now my feet really started to hurt.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

That's when I thought I'd sneak a peek.

Sitting in front and to the right of me was my sensei. He was a big German man: 6", 250 pounds. He had one eye open and a smirk on his face.

His one robotic-like eye surveyed the class like a Terminator locating its target. As we made eye contact, I thought I might be vaporized at any second so I immediately closed them tight, like a kid hiding from a ghost in a bad horror movie.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Why did my Sensei have his one eye open? Was everyone else doing the same thing? Was it some kind of bizarre ritual where you were supposed to move your open eye side to side in unison?

I had no idea, and the fear overcame me.

There was no way I was going to risk being caught a second time with my eyes open. So I kept my eyes shut. Tight.

"Yame!"

Thank goodness the silence was broken by a familiar sound. I knew it was the highest ranked student's voice, the same voice that commanded "seiza" and "mokuso". I didn't know what "yame" meant, but it was enough for me to trust that I could open my eyes.

I peered into the mirror at the other students and they had all placed their hands back on their thighs. The voice then said "Sensei-ni Rei" and everybody made a full kneeling bow.

I don't remember if it was my first or second class but it was definitely my first "mokuso" experience.

It was strange and intriguing. And I had no idea what it was about!

That's what I want to touch on today. For karate traditionalists this will be familiar. But if you're new to karate or "mokuso" then here are some tips to help you make sense of all this fuss.

Many western karate schools do not practice "mokuso", which literally translates to meditate". Many clubs do not sit in "seiza" (the kneeling position) and many do not make full kneeling bows.

This kind of formality is usually found in more traditional karate schools. Its foundations are based on Japanese/Okinawan culture, etiquette and tradition.

For western karate practitioners who sooner or later stumble across this somewhat foreign practice, it can be a little confusing at first. Some people will immediately stop listening to you, back away shyly sure not to make eye contact when they hear words like "meditate" and "breathing" come out of your mouth.

They think you're going to be some kind of Zen master who's going to get all "weird" with them, saying something philosophical that only truly enlightened beings can make sense of, such as...

"Master your <<insert favorite emotion here>> before your <<insert favorite emotion again>> masters you."

But really meditation is not that strange. You don't have to be a Zen master to meditate, or even speak of it!

Many instructors who have had years of karate training do not understand "mokuso" and simply tell you to shut your eyes and "think nice thoughts". This advice is unfocused and misleading.

The purpose of mokuso is to clear your mind of thoughts and prepare yourself for class. This is the final point of entry to the tatami. You really should have already left your mental baggage somewhere else.

However, just in case you have any "carry on luggage" that you might bring to class with you, such as negative thoughts or deep emotion that might affect your training, your mokuso before class is when you want to get rid of it. During class you should have one focus only.

K A R A T E !

Not work.

Not school.

Not your financial disasters!

Not your kids.

Nor anything else that will take your mind away from your training.

So when you hear "mokuso" and you're asked to close your eyes and "think nice thoughts" here is ONE thing you can do instead so that your mokuso is productive and effective.

The two basic types of meditation that I'd like to explain in this article are below. I'm not going to go into detail about the breathing technique; instead I'd like to focus on the mental state.

With Seed

This kind of meditation is when you put a focal point (seed) in your mind to prevent you becoming distracted by such things as how much your feet hurt, the sound of the ticking clock, voices outside or cars going by.

As you breathe deeply, try to visualize an inanimate object such as a green shiny apple or a plain white coffee cup. It must be something simple, non-descriptive and a single color. If you chose a coffee cup, then it should simply be a white coffee cup. Not an intricately designed cup with beautiful patterns swirling around it. Nor should it be a coffee cup falling off a table smashing onto the floor into a thousand pieces. Just a plain white coffee cup.

Now when you hear the phone ring and you find yourself listening to other noises, visualize your "seed" and focus on that only. Continue your breathing and "see" the seed in your mind. When you become distracted you will notice that the image you created in your mind will vanish. This is when it's time to refocus on your seed and try to hold the image steady for the duration of your mokuso.

After you finish your mokuso, open your eyes and breathe normally for a few breaths. You should find that your worries have temporarily subsided. You'll feel calmer, more relaxed and focused, and more importantly ready to work hard and do good karate. Then it's time to jump up on your feet and begin your warm-up.

This simple method helps you focus on one thing and at the same time, dissolve any emotional baggage that you might have brought to class with you.

How long should mokuso be?

Opinions vary, but mokuso at the start of class is usually short. Less than one minute although some clubs may make it longer). A reason for its brevity is so that you can clear your mind before class without getting sleepy! If mokuso is any longer in duration, you might find yourself feeling lethargic and it will be difficult to get motivated to train.

Unfortunately, a short mokuso makes it difficult for the beginner to find focus in that time period. Don't expect to be able to do it immediately. Some people find it very difficult to visualize, which is usually a sign of an active brain. It might take you a few weeks before you can relax enough to visualize your seed.

Mokuso is like anything else. It takes practice, but once you get it you will find it an effective tool to help you with your karate. Practice at home if you like. Just find a place where you won't be disturbed and take the phone of the hook. You'll soon get the hang of it.

So next time you're in class and hear the word "mokuso", try this method for yourself. Don't just be satisfied with "thinking happy thoughts" for that won't help you clear your mind and focus on your training. Decide what your "seed" is going to be, find it in your mind and stay focused on it.

You might surprise yourself.

Uh oh. Look at that. We're out of room. Stay tuned, we'll talk about the other type of meditation in part 2 and 3 of this article.

Jason Stanley
www.karatetips.com